SHARRYLAND
Museum "E Dubarìe," history that lives again in the present
A man and his museum that will enter your heart
Where is
What it is and where it is
Walking through the small medieval village of Rocchetta, we decide to approach the Barbaira stream. Here, past the bridge that leads us from Via XX Settembre to the entrance of the old village, we find a wooden sign with artfully carved lettering indicating the entrance to the Dubarìe Museum. Arriving at the wrought-iron gate, we catch sight of a gentleman intent on talking to a group of foreign tourists and, meanwhile, peek inside. Curiosity finally drives us to cross the threshold....
Why it is special
Immediately, Henry comes to meet us, graciously welcoming us into his world of the ancient crafts and cultural history of the Dubarièe tower. "You know, 'dubariè' means, in local slang, ' shallow,' in a 'smelly' and 'unhealthy' area." It may, at first glance, not seem like a compliment, but the meaning attributed to it has inestimable cultural-historical value. "The odor is, in this case, that of leather work or pounding referring to the hemp that was processed here in Rocchetta Nervina."
Not to be missed
"Come with me!" exclaims Enrico, leading the way. After passing the outdoor terrace at the foot of the white stone tower, among the tanning tools and ancient workshop counter, we come to a ravine carved into the rock, just above the level of the stream. "I designed and made by myself this retrecine wheel formed from 18 beech spoons. A very faithful reproduction of the real thing." The water, striking the spoons, sets the wheel in motion, which transmits the movement to the millstone in the upper room.
A bit of history
"In 2015 I acquired these spaces, which had become a garbage dump, to create my own storage facility, since I live next door. During the salvage operation, which was all my responsibility, I discovered that the entire building had originated as an old tannery." From that point on, Henry goes beyond the personal storage project-his archaeological interest is geared toward historical enhancement and recovery. "With the discovery of the ritrecine mill, a village dedicated to local handicrafts emerges, even in times before the tanneries." Heritage recovered and made available to the community through hard work that lasted a good 3 years.
Curiosity
Enrico is also an avid painter. There is a small room in the museum dedicated to the artisan compartment, and as we walk up the staircase leading to the studio at the top of the tower, we notice a large piece of artwork meticulously depicting the entire Barbaira Valley. We become fascinated by the thousands of colors and Enrico illustrates it, telling us extraordinary anecdotes from his life. This is the most vivid, profound, and most enriching experience we had on this trip to western Liguria.
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Enter the Map of Italy's Undiscovered Wonders and find treasures where you least expect it... Inspire, Recommend, Share...
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